The 1st of October is the UN National Day of Older Persons. Each state and territory has a Seniors’ Month, but the month varies. In Queensland it is October https://qldseniorsmonth.org.au.

I joined the EDI committee to advocate for the middle-aged and older members of ASCEPT, especially those that no longer hold major research grants i.e., people like me! I think there are lots of us. It was 2003 when I published my last paper on experimental cardiovascular pharmacology – I was 51 years old. I no longer wanted to write grant applications, but I wanted to continue in research and other academic pursuits. So, I took up ‘do it yourself research’ in two areas. Firstly, adherence to medicines, which involved going around retirement villages talking to the older-aged. After some modest success in this, I had to give it up due to difficulties in walking. Secondly, I started some education research, and this is continuing. My other academic pursuit is a variety of writing (commentaries, reviews). I find these last two pursuits fulfilling, despite my perception than they are undervalued. 

I retired in 2016 – I was 65 years old. It was then that I discovered the beautiful winter sunsets from my home! It took about two years to complete the projects I was involved in, and then the big question – do I want to start some new education research or not? Yes, I did want to continue researching, and I have also continued with the other writing. 

Since retiring I have been working as an Adjunct. This has caused some problems, as adjuncts are not allowed to lead projects; one being that I must rely on others to act as PIs on my research for ethics. This has had unforeseen consequences, which is a story for another time.

I decided that my last presentation (poster) was likely to be at IUPHAR in Glasgow in 2022, and then I would wind down further. Glasgow was eventful for me. On the first day, I misplaced the S-pen from my new phone and ran around like a mad woman asking, ‘have you seen my S-pen’. On the third day, I tripped on some loose carpeting and rearranged my front teeth. The Dental Hospital kindly put the teeth back in place.

I’ve changed my mind on winding down. Why? Partly, the EDI committee with its new challenges for me.